by admin | Mar 5, 2018 | DTI Updates, Headlines
Houston, Texas – The 2018 Philippines Healthcare Information Management Services (HIMS) Trade and Investment Roadshow to the USA with the theme “Unlocking Opportunities. Embracing Innovation” held a business forum and outreach in Houston, Texas from 1-2 March 2018.
Texas Honorary Consul General Ethel Mercado welcomed the Philippine delegation headed by DTI Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group Nora Terrado and composed of officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) and Export Management Bureau (EMB), Philippine business process management (BPM) industry leaders and representatives from 13 companies providing IT and HIMS-BPM services.
Attended by healthcare professionals and business owners ranging from small to large healthcare facilities and institutions, the business forum held at the Texas Medical Center (TMC) 3rd Coast Restaurant highlighted the Philippines’ strong economic growth that translates to more enhanced partnership opportunities between the Philippines and the Houston healthcare industry.
The delegation served as ambassadors in promoting the sector’s strengths, advantages and capabilities. Company visits to the top three (3) health facilities in Houston, namely Memorial Hermann, Methodist, and CHI St. Lukes as well as Kindred and HealthSouth facilitated discussions on the impact of technology on healthcare information management.
“As we see the transformative effect of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the healthcare industry, the Philippines will continue to advance the complementation of our services and these emerging technologies. It also gives pride to the Philippines the increasing role of Overseas Filipino Investors (OFIs) in Houston’s healthcare and IT-BPM sector who have established their own respective facilities. We will continue to enhance our services to ensure we bring value to our OFIs as well,” said Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group Nora K. Terrado.
The Houston Business Forum and Outreach is the 2nd track of the 2018 Philippines Healthcare Information Management Services (HIMS) Trade and Investment Roadshows in the United States of America (USA) organized by the Philippine Board of Investment (BOI) and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) in close coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center Los Angeles (PTIC-LA) and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce – Texas (PACCTx).
The Philippine delegation also concluded the New York Business Forum and business-to-business (B2B) meetings. It will proceed to Las Vegas for the country’s participation to the 2018 HIMSS Annual Conference and Exhibition, which will be attended by around 40,000 professionals, executives and vendors in the IT/HIM industry worldwide, making it a vast potential for networking and investment opportunities for the country.
The Philippines remains one of the leading suppliers of HIMS services worldwide, with 118, 245 full time employees (FTEs) and revenue of $2.41 billion in 2016. The Roadshow is part of the continuous efforts of the Philippines to help the HIMS-BPM Industry reach its US$5 billion revenue and 210,000 FTEs target by 2022.
In photo: The Philippine delegation during the Healthcare Information Management Services (HIMS) Trade and Investment Roadshow to the USA with the theme “Unlocking Opportunities. Embracing Innovation” business forum and outreach in Houston, Texas from 1-2 March 2018.
by admin | Feb 23, 2018 | Business, DTI Updates, Headlines
Global buyers are up for an exciting showcase of the Philippines’ premier seafood and other food segments in the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines, the country’s biggest export-oriented food show, on May 25-27 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City.
Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry‐Center for Trade Expositions and Mission (DTI‐CITEM), IFEX Philippines 2018 will stage its first special edition featuring “The Best of the Seas,” focusing on the fast-growing seafood market in the Philippine regions and other Asian countries.
“Now an annual event, IFEX Philippines continues to be the largest and widely anticipated food trade event in the country,” said Nora K. Terrado, DTI Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group and CITEM Officer-in-Charge (OIC).
“For its 12th edition, we will highlight the Philippines’ finest seafood to satisfy the growing global demand for marine product and coastal cuisines, along with other exquisite food products across the globe”, added Terrado.
As one of the official business events during the country’s hosting of ASEAN in 2017, last year’s IFEX Philippines opened more trade opportunities and innovations around the world with the showcase of Philippines’ best and overseas participation of the European Union (EU), China, South Korea, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and other countries.
The three-day event was attended by nearly 11,000 international and local visitors, including 2,057 high-profile trade buyers from top global retail giants and supermarkets. These buyers came from different regions across the globe, such as Europe, China and SARs, Middle East, East Asia, America and Southeast Asia.
For its 12th edition, the IFEX Philippines will excite buyers with the country’s top and emerging food export companies to promote Philippine food products and strengthen links with buyers, importers, and retailers in the global market. Meanwhile, the event will also put up an International Hall to host the top seafood and non‐marine products of leading companies and manufacturers from other participating countries.
Making a flavorful splash in its seafood edition, IFEX Philippines will also stage the Regional Seafood Pavilion, a regional showcase of world‐class seafood products and ingredients locally sourced from the coasts and diverse marine environments across the Philippine archipelago.
“We are tapping the country’s most marine-abundant coastal regions from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This is where we will bring key suppliers to make it easier for buyers to source in one pavilion the best fish and marine products, such as tuna, milkfish, prawns, tilapia, and other seafood from the Philippines,” said Terrado.
The Coastal Culinary Cuisine will then complete the culinary journey in a dynamic presentation of the Philippines’ most iconic and distinct regional seafood cuisines from top international and local experts to give an exquisite experience of the country’s heirloom flavors and traditions.
The Marketplace is also open for a one‐stop retail experience of premium food products ranging from seafood products, fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, processed foods, homemade regional delicacies, and many more.
For those in want of much more inspiration and adventure, visiting buyers and exhibiting companies can also attend export and investment seminars to get new ideas and updates on the latest regulations, trends, and innovations in the food industry from renowned experts, researchers, lecturers and members of the academe.
The 12th edition of IFEX Philippines is supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Interested companies/exhibitor may contact Ms. Alex Lucas at 831-2137, or send an inquiry at alucas@citem.com.ph.
by admin | Feb 23, 2018 | Headlines, Negosyo Center Updates
22 February 2018 – Go Lokal!, the leading retail concept store which showcases high quality and innovative Philippine products crafted, designed and manufactured by the country’s Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), will launch its newest collections for 2018 at a Buyers’ Day on March 08, 2018.
The Buyers’ Day is an opportunity for buyers to check out the new products of over a hundred MSMEs from the product development program of the Design Center of the Philippines, exclusively for Go Lokal!. The event will be highlighted with the awarding of Top Brand discoveries of 2017, startups that fulfilled their goal of creating value, supporting dramatic bottom-line results and acting as a strategic asset to customers worldwide.
The Buyers’ Day will be held at the GoLokal!ConceptStore@DTI located at the Ground Floor, Trade and Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. For more information on Go Lokal!, please visit its website at golokal.dti.gov.ph.
by admin | Feb 22, 2018 | Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry’s Trade and Investments Promotion Group (DTI-TIPG) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo (PTIC-Tokyo) shared promising developments for Philippine cacao beans as it enters the mainstream Japanese market through the newly-produced chocolate made by Isetan Mitsukoshi.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Group, Japan’s largest department store group, developed a new chocolate brand named Nayuta Chocolatasia. The product formulated to match the Asian palate, is made from cacao beans sourced from four Southeast Asian countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The Philippine cacao beans were sourced from a Davao-based plantation, Philippine’s Plantacion de Sikwate Cacao Producers Association.
As part of Isetan’s Mitsukoshi’s strong campaign for the said chocolate, they are currently running a six-month promotional campaign through a chocolate fair called Salon du Chocolat at their Shinjuku store.
“The presence of Philippine cacao beans in the mainstream Japanese market is a clear manifestation that our produce are truly world-class. With sufficient support and aggressive marketing strategies being implemented by various private and public sector partners, we hope more and more Philippine goods will join the global market,” said DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.
According to the Philippine Department of Agriculture, the global demand for cocoa is estimated to reach between 4.7 million to 5 million metric tons by 2020. However, it is also predicted to reach a global shortage at 1 million MT in the same year.
“We see a lot of budding local manufacturers and producers of cacao in the country. We, at DTI, continue to urge them to join trade fairs and avail support services that help them in accessing not just domestic but as well as international markets such as Japan. In this way, we will be able to mainstream Philippine produce while we continue to build the country’s brand globally,” said DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.
Undersecretary Terrado also urged producers to tap the DTI and its wide-range of support services with its Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTICs) abroad. “DTI assists Philippine companies especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in getting a glimpse of emerging trends and slowly test and introduce the acceptability of their products in the international market,” Terrado added.
Current efforts and initiatives in developing the Philippine cacao industry are mostly focused in Mindanao, which accounts for 90% of the Philippine cacao production, with 80% coming from the Davao Region alone.
DTI, through its Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program, has provided 16 cacao-processing facilities in various regions that aim to equip and accelerate MSMEs’ competitiveness by giving them access to energy efficient technologies and sophisticated equipment in their production.
Nayuta Chocolatasia chocolates sourced from the Philippines displayed at Isetan Mitsukoshi.
by admin | Feb 20, 2018 | Headlines, TESDA Updates
TAGBILARAN CITY, Pebrero 19 (PIA)–The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will provide free skills training to returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Kuwait.
TESDA-Bohol Information Officer Marichu Cua said that returning Boholano OFWs from Kuwait can enroll for free in technical-vocational (tech-voc) courses offered by their agency.
According to Cua, TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong has ordered the regional/provincial/district directors and TESDA Technology Institutions (TTI) to prioritize the OFWs from Kuwait for training programs being offered by TTI.
Mamondiong also directed TESDA officials to seek out and contact the returning OFWs in their respective areas, in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) so that they could receive immediate assistance, Cua added.
The beneficiaries shall be entitled to free training, free assessment, and training support fund (TSF).
Early this month, some 400 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait arrived in Manila. The first batches of migrant workers were granted amnesty by the Kuwaiti government.
President Duterte announced a total ban on the deployment of Filipinos to Kuwait after the body of OFW Joanna Daniela Dimafelis was found inside a freezer in an abandoned flat in the Arab nation and believed to be maltreated due to bruises and marks on her body.
(ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Feb 20, 2018 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, Pebrero 19 (PIA)–The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will bring its scholarships closer to those who want to avail of free skills training and even help its graduates in finding a job.
With this, TESDA-Bohol is inviting all senior high school students and technical-vocational (Tech-Voc) graduates to come and join the National TVET Enrollment Day and Jobs Bridging Program on February 28, 2018.
This will be held in three sites namely: Bohol Institute of Technology-International College (BIT-IC) in Tagbilaran City; Jagna Business Center in Jagna; and at Ramon Magsaysay Multi-Purpose Gym in Ubay.
TESDA-Bohol Information Officer Marichu Cua said that the activity aims to provide information on the different Technical Vocational Education and Training programs for the Boholanos and to promote TVET as preferred choice of career.
Cua said they will facilitate the enrollment of interested applicants to TESDA scholarship programs from 9am to 3pm on the said day.
Enrollment is open to all Filipinos age 15 and above for those interested to pursue various Tech-Voc courses.
Requirements for the enrollment include valid ID or NSO birth certificate and 1×1 picture. On the other hand, job applicants should bring their TESDA certificate and resume.
This activity is open to the public. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
